Vehicle spring



March 2 1926.

M. VAN METER VEHICLE SPRING Filed Dec. 23, I922 .z hfaz'nzy Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

nonron VAN METER, or GRAND RAr'ins, raronrean.

VEHICLE SPRING.

Application filed. December 23, 1922. Serial No.v 608,726.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MORTON VAN METER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Springs, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to vehicle springs; and its object is to provide for wheeled vehicles, as automobiles, an improved spring structure whereby the vehicles body portion or chassis is supported vertically-yieldingly by its axle portion; and further, to provide improved means for cushioning the rebound of such spring structures.

This and any other objects here nafter appearing are attained by, and the invention finds preferable embodiment in, the structure hereinafter particularly described in the body of this specification and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of aportion of the body and axle of an automobile to which my spring structure is applied, parts tl1ereof being shown in central vertical section;

Figure 2 is a like view of a modified construction of the same; and

Figure 3 is a detail view of certain parts thereof. 4

In the embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration by the drawings and for detailed description in the body of this specification, my invention is shown applied to an automobile (one side thereof being seen in the drawings) having the body portion, designated generally 1, and the axle Au elongated connecting member 23, secured in its middle to the bolster i; of the body 1 as by the bolts 5, and at its ends pivot-ally to the link 6 which is pivotally supported by the perch 7 of the axle, is shown in Figure 1. In this construction said member 3 is a leafspring yieldingly permitting the interrelative vertical move ment of the body 1' and axle 2. In the modified construction however seen in Figure 2, the connecting-member shown as comprising right-hand and left-hand portions 3 each being pivotally mounted at 8 on the bolster and at its other end pivotally supported by the link 6. In th s modified construction the connecting-member 3 may be a spring or may be a rigid part. In either construction shown in Figure 1 orFigure 2, the connecting-member may be stiffened, particularly adjacent the perchconnected end thereof, by a leaf 9 as shown in Figure 2 or otherwise as may be desired.

A coiled spring 10 supported by the con necting-member intermediate its connections with the body 1 and perch 6, as on the plate or cup 11 surrounding the lowest coil of such spring, supports the body 1 of the vehicle, the upper end of this spring being seated in a cup 12 in the end of the bolster "i.

It is evident that as the body 1 moves downwardly toward the axle 2, the spring 10 thus compressing or shortening, the spring-connecting member 3 in Figure 1 is flexed downwardly intermediate the connections thereof with the bolster and the link '6; or, as seen in Figure 2, the connecting-member 3 (entirely or partially rigid) swings slightly on its pivotal connection. 8 with the bolster. A second coiled spring 13 extending between the bodys bolster 4: and the connecting-member 3 or 3 is provided for resisting or cushioning the rebound of the coiled body-supporting spring 10. As shown, this spring 13 is within the spring 10 and has a shank portion 14. at its upper or lower end (or at both ends as shown) which shank portion is freely slidable in an opening 15 in the bolster or in the connecting-member, and is furnished with a retaining head 16. It is evident that during a portion of the expansive or contractive movement 'of the body-supporting spring 10, the rebound-cushioning spring 13 has no function, by reason of the in operative longitudinal sliding movement of its shank 14: in the opening 15. It is also evident that when the leaf-sprit 3 is sufficiently flexed downwardly, as seen in,

Figure 3, the absence of rigid connection between the center of the plate or cup 11 and this leaf-spring permits a freely flexing movement of the leaf-spring 3 between the edges of the plate or cup 11, the lower shank 14 ofthe spring 13 sliding freely in the opening 15 in the leaf-spring- 3 and in a registering opening 17 in said plate or cup.

It will be seen that the connecting-menr' ber, whether of the leaf-spring resilient form 3 seen in Figure 1 or of the rigid or somewhat resilient form 3 seen in Figure 2, is essentially a lever fulcrumed on the link 6, its other end being supported at 5 ber does not in itself alone, function as a supporting means for the body 1.

The invention being intended to be pointed out inthe claims is notto be limited-tool by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings QPlrE-Glill'lbOFOlQ describedor shown.

-1. In a Vehicle; an fiXlQ;;,&-b0l:y;it lever fuleri-imed at, one end on the axle, itsother end being supported on the body against downward movement; it body-supporting coiled-spring supportedbythe lever; rigid means cerriedby the body for supporting the same by; the; spring; a coiled-spring ex tending bGtWEQil-illti: body and the levern 'l yieldingly resisting the rebound of the li st.- mentionedeoiledspring and having; an inoperative movement in aportion of the firstmentioned col-led springs operative movement.

2. In a vehicle; an; axle; n bodype, resilient lever Euler-timed at one end onfthe axle, its other end being supported on the body against downward movement; a body-supporting coiled spring supported by the lever; EL coiled spring :ithin the first-mentioned: coil-ed SEQl-iIIgQHd extending between the bodyand the le-ver and having til-limitedlongitudinal 'movement relatively to atleast one 'ofzthem openings aindvhzrving 2r heartland:adeptedto cushion; the rebound of the first-mentioned coiledspring,

l; In it; vehicle; an axle; aitbody; a link swingzrbly mountedon the axle; ,ZL lever fulc-rnined at one end on, the link, its other end being supported on the body against downward movement; 7 tr. bodyrsupporting coiled sprin-g su portedrby the. -lever.; rigid means en-rriedrby the body for supporting the-smnerby. the spring; a coiled spring extending between the body and the lever and lyielding ly, resisting the rebound :of the irstmentioned coil.e-d,springand having an inoperative movement in n portion of the first n'ientionedi coiled springls: operative movement.

In testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand at GrendRapids, lVlichignrnthis lSthidey of December, v1922..

MORTON VAN METER. 

